Exercising device



July 29, 1958 c. s. ALLEN 2,

EXERCISING DEVICE Filed Jan. 3, 1957 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 v I I m a C y Y i J U/mrles' 5: flflen 1 I BY 1 l 1 4 q ATTORNEYS.

INVENTOR July 29, 1958 c. s. ALLEN 2,

, EXERCIS ING DEVICE Filed Jan. 5, 1957 w 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /7 A9 a e Z Charles Jiflllen INVENTOR 8 I 7 I BY .W- m ATTORNEYS.

July 29, 1958 'c. s. ALLEN EXERCISING DEVICE a Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 3, 1957 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent 2,845,063 EXERCISING. DEVICE" Charles S. Allen, Bakersfielicalif. Application January3, 1957, Serial No. 632,306

Claims. (Cl. 128'32) This invention relates to an exercising mechanism and more particularly to an exercising; mechanism of the portable type which may be readily and easily strapped to the foot of a bed where the apparatus-is-supported for engagement by the feet of the patient or person using the device.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character including a frame on which pedals are pivotally secured, together with means for vibrating the pedals while the feet of the patient or person using the exercising device are firmly pressed against the vibrating pedals.

Another object of the invention is to provide manually controlled mechanism operated by therpatient for regulating the pressure of the patients feet against the pedals as required in varying thetreatrnents and use of the apparatus.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means whereby the pedals of the apparatus may be alternately tilted laterally when exercising the knees is desirable, or tilted alternately forwardly and rearwardly in exercising the ankles and foot muscles.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating an exercising device constructed in accordance with the invention as strapped to the foot of a mattress.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the exercising device.

Fig. 3 is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of the exercising device.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the electrical circuit controlling the action of the vibrator.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the vibrating pedal plate.

Fig. 8 is a disconnected view illustrating the support for the vibrator plate or pedal support.

Fig. 9 is a fragmental plan view illustrating the straps and handles which are grasped by the patient or operator during the use of the exercising device.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line 10--10 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through one of the handles of the exercising device grasped by the patient or operator and showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the exercising device forming the subject matter of the present invention, embodies a base plate 5 including hingedly connected end sections 6, the end sections 6 having openings 7 formed adjacent to the free ends thereof through which the strap 8 extends, the strap being formed into loops with the ends of the strap connected as by means of a buckle 9, so that the lengths of the strap may be adjusted to meet various requirements of use.

2,845,063 Patented July 29, 1958 The strap 8 affords means whereby the base plate 5 and elements supported thereby, may be strapped to the mattress of a bed adjacent to the foot of the bed, as better shown by Fig. l of the drawings.

Angle arms 10 are secured to the base plate 5, by means of the bolts 11, there being provided a layer of sponge rubber indicated by the reference character 12, as positioned between the base plate 5 and angle arms 10, as shown by Fig. 5 of the drawings.

The angle arms 10 are-so mounted that the ends 13 thereof extend upwardly in vertical relation with respect to the plate 5, where they provide a support for the plate 14 which has its side faces disposed vertically, the plate 14 being secured to the upwardly extended ends of the angle arms 10, by means of rivets 15.

Loops 16 are formed at the side edges of the plate 14 and afford means for attaching the straps 17 to the plate 14.

These straps 17 have their ends connected by means of buckles 18 providing loops for connecting the handles 19 thereto.

The plate 14 also provides a support for the vibrator 20 which is secured to the outer face of the plate 14, by means of rivets 21.

Extending forwardly from the vibrator plate 14, are spaced gears 22 between which the hinge section 23 is disposed and held in position with respect to the spaced gears by means of the pintle 24. The hinge section 23 extends from the center of the plate 25 which plate 25 constitutes the support for the pedals 26 that are pivotally connected to the plate 25 by means of the pivots 2.7, the pivots 27 being arranged intermediate the ends of the pedals 26, so that the pedals 26 may pivot with respect to the plate 25. Coiled springs 28 are connected between the toe and heel portions of the pedals and adjacent sections of the plate 25, as better shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, so that under normal conditions, the pedals will move to positions in parallel relation with the plate 25.

Coiled springs 29 have one of their respective ends connected to the plate 30 while the opposite ends thereof are connected to the plate 25, by means of the members 31a which springs 29 tend to return the plate 25 to which they are connected, to a position illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawings, after each pivotal movement of the plate :25. The apparatus as described has been designed for use while the patient is lying on the bed in a manner as shown by Fig. 1 in which a pull is directed to the straps 17 with the arms pushed to the sides of the patient.

Should it be desired to use the apparatus with the arms stretched rearwardly over the head of the patient, the straps which are indicated by the reference character 17 may be extended through the links 31 that are secured to the head of a bed indicated by the reference character 32 by means of the books 33 that are secured tothe head of the bed.

Rollers 34 are mounted in the links 31 and afford means for allowing the straps to slide easily through the links. Handles 35 are secured to the straps in the usual manner to be gripped by the patient or person using the exercising device while the arms are stretched over the head and the feet are positioned on the pedals.

The electrical circuit for controlling the vibrator 20, is illustrated by Fig. 6 of the drawings and includes the positive wire 36 and the negative wire 37 that connect with the vibrator 20 as at 38. A switch of the three-way type is indicated by the reference character 33 andcontrols the operation of the vibrator 20.

In use, the switch 39 is moved to complete the circuit to the vibrator. The vibrator in motion, vibrates the plate 14 which in turn vibrates the pedals against which the feet of the patient are held. The straps 17 are pulled by the operator which creates pressure against the vibrator plate 14 increasing blood circulation in the feet and legs of the patient.

By bending the feet in various directions, it will be obviousthat simultaneously with the operation of the vibrator, the muscles of the knee and legs may be exercised. Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is: 1. An exercising device comprising a base plate, means for securing said base plate to a support, upstanding -arms secured to said base plate, a vertical vibrator plate ment are held, during the treatment, and straps having handles, connected to said vibrator plate for transmitting vibration to the patients hands gripping and pulling said handles of the device.

2. An exercising device comprising a base plate, means for securing said base plate to a support, arms rising from said base plate, a vibrator including a supporting plate mounted on said arms, pedals supported adjacent to said vibrator, mechanism for transmitting vibrations from said vibrator to said pedals, and straps connected with said vibrator supporting plate, said straps adapted to be pulled by the patient holding the patients feet firmly against the pedals, during the operation of said vibrator.

3. An exercising device comprising a base plate, a

strap connected to said base plate adapted to strap said i base plate to a supporting member, a pair of upstanding supporting arms mounted on said base plate, a vibrator plate secured to said arms, a vibrator mounted on said vibrator plate, a pedal plate connected to said vibrator plate for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane, pedals connected to said pedal plate for vertical pivotal movement with respect thereto, and against which the feet of the patient are held during treatment, and straps connected to said vibrator plate adapted to be pulled by the patient, forcing the feet of the patient firmly against said pedals.

4. An exercising device comprising a base plate, means for securing said base plate on a supporting surface, a vertical vibrator plate mounted on said base plate, a vibrator mounted on said vibrator plate, a pedal plate pivotally mounted on said vibrator plate for rocking movement with respect to said vibrator plate, coiled springs connected between said base plate and the ends of said pedal plate normally holding said pedal plate in parallel relation to said vibrator plate, pedals pivotally mounted on said pedal plate, springs adapted to normally urge said pedals to positions parallel with said pedal plates, and straps connected to the opposite ends of said vibrator plate, said' straps adapted to be pulled by the patient exercising, exerting pressure on said pedals as said vibrator vibrates said plates and pedals.

5. An exercising device comprising a base plate, supporting arms secured to said base plate and rising therefrom, a vertical vibrator plate secured to said base plate intermediate the side edges thereof, a vibrator mounted on said plate, a pedal plate, pivoted mechanism located centrally of said vibrator plate connecting the pedal plate to said vibrator plate, pedals mounted on said pedal plate adapted to pivot in vertical planes, and pull straps connected to said vibrator plate adapted to transmit vibrations to the hands of the operator holding said straps upon operation of said vibrator.

No references cited. 

